Coin totalisator



March 8, 1966 s. A. MAXWELL COIN TOTALISATOR Filed NOV. 5, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 STewAn-r Amie HmcweLL.

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March 8, 1966 s. A. MAXWELL COIN TOTALISATOR Filed Nov. 5, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 O O O & l 83 (a; 76 6| W) O F/G. Z.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 5, 1964 //U|/-T K. s ewm' Anne Hande March 8, 1966 s. A. MAXWELL COIN TOTALISATOR 4 SheetsSheet 4.

Filed Nov. 5, 1964 luvemufi. +ewnrrr Amen Maw/eufled" Patented Mar. 8, 1966 3,239,047 COIN TOTALISATOR Stewart Alfred Maxwell, Walsall, England, assignor to Fisher & Ludlow Limited, Birmingham, England, a British company Filed Nov. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 469,325 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Nov. 7, 1963, 43,942/ 63 3 Claims. (Cl. 194-9) This invention relates to coin totalisators or credit totalising units for use in coin-freed apparatus of the kind which are operated or permitted to operate upon insertion of the appropriate coinage into the apparatus, the credit totalising units being of the kind which include first and second step counters, means rendered operative by the insertion of a basic coin for effecting operation of the first step counter by one step, means for effecting operation of the second step counter by one step as a result of operation of the first step counter by a predetermined number (hereinafter referred to as the datum number) of steps and means rendered operative by the insertion of a coin, (hereinafter referred to as the datum coin) the value of which correspond to the value of the basic coin multiplied by the datum number, for effecting operation of the second step counter by one stop.

Such a credit totalising unit is hereinafter referred to as a credit totalising unit of the kind specified and it is to be understood that the term coin is deemed to include tokens, counters or any form of currency.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved form of credit totalising unit of the kind specified.

In accordance with the invention a credit totalising unit of the kind specified is characterised in that it includes means, rendered operative by the insertion of a coir1, the value of which is intermediate that of the basic coin and that of the datum coin, for eifecting operation of the first step counter by a number of steps dependent upon the value of the coin and rendered operative, by the insertion, of a coin, the value of which is a multiple of that of the datum coin, for effecting operation of the second step counter by a number of steps dependent upon the value of the coin divided by the datum number, said first and second step counters preferably including a plurality of armatures adapted to be operated sequentially, the operation of any one armature preparing the subsequent armature for operation and the armatures of said first and second step counters being connected to price control switch means.

Said means preferably comprises pulse generating means for delivering a corresponding number of pulses to either the first or second step counter operating mechanisms.

The pulse generating means may include a pair of hunting relays the controls for which include an intermediate step counter.

The invention is particularly applicable to coin operated vending machines of the type in which the price of a commodity may be varied and/or a choice of commodities is vended but is also applicable to other forms of service controls such as those used in launderettes or bowling alleys.

A machine operating mechanism is preferably connected to the price control switch means whereby operation of the armature or armatures of the first and second step counters which correspond to a vending price efifects actuation of the machine operating mechanism.

When a plurality of commodities are vended at dilferent prices a plurality of price control switch means are provided.

In order to increase the price range of the machine the credit totalising unit may include a third step counter and means provided whereby the operation of the second step counter by a predetermined number of steps effects operation of the third step counter by one step.

One example of the invention will now be described with reference to FIGURE 1 of the accompanying drawings which illustrates schematically a credit totalising unit for a cigarette dispensing machine of the kind in which packets of cigarettes are dispensed upon insertion of the appropriate coinage into the machine and the subsequent pressing of a selector button on the front of the machine.

The machine has a single coin insertion slot and includes a coin selection mechanism of any known type which is adapted to test and separate various denominations of coinage, there being a separate coin path for each denomination of coinage and a coin switch in each coin path. Alternatively there could be a separate coin slot for each denomination of coinage and separate coin selection mechanisms.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the machine is adapted to accept pennies, threepenny pieces, sixpences, shillings, florins and half-crowns and includes pulse generating means P, first and second step counters T1 and T2, each of which has an operating relay, a price control mechanism comprising a pair of dials 20 and 21 having radially disposed contacts, rotary switch members 22 and 23 which can be moved into engagement with any of the contacts and a machine operating relay 24 connected between the two switch members 22 and 23 of the price control mechanism.

The step counters T1 and T2 each include a number of armatures adapted to be operated sequentially, the operation of any one armature preparing the subsequent armature for operation. Each armature is connected to a contact on one of the dials 20 and 21 and the arrangement is such that when the appropriate armatures of the two step counters have been operated the machine operating relay 24 is energised to permit a vending operation of the machine upon pressing of the selector button.

When it is desired that the vending machine will dis pense a plurality of commodities at different prices a plurality of price control mechanisms will be provided, each includes a pair of dials having rotary switch members and an operating relay connected between each pair of switch members.

The insertion of a penny into the machine operates the appropriate coin switch to operate the operating relay of the first step counter T1 so that one armature of the first step counter is moved into its closed or operated position. If a total of six pennies are inserted into the machine six armatures of the first step counter T1 will be closed one after the other; the closure of the sixth armature effects the operation of the operating relay of the second step counter T2 so that one armature of the second step counter is moved into its closed position and also operates a resetting mechanism for the first step counter T1 which is thus returned to its original condition.

The insertion of a threepenny piece into the machine operates the appropriate coin switch to energise the pulse generating means P to deliver three pulses to the operating relay of the first step counter T1 so as to close three armatures of the first step counter one after the other.

The insertion of a sixpenny piece into the machine operates the appropriate coin switch to operate the operating relay of the second step counter T2 directly so as to close one armature of the second step counter.

The insertion of a shilling, florin or half-crown into the machine causes the operation of a coin switch and the operation of the pulse generating means P to deliver two,

=3 four or five pulses respectively to the operating relay of the second step counter T2 so that two, four or five armatures of the second step counter T2 are closed.

If desired a third step counter could be employed, and the arrangement is such that closure of the tenth armature of the second step counter would effect closure of the first armature of this third step counter and reset the second step counter.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 which together illustrate a practical embodiment of the invention.

As shown in the drawings the major part of the circuit of the credit totalising unit is connected across the opposite terminals of a rectifier assembly so that the totalising unit can be considered as being mainly D.C. operated. The unit includes six spring loaded coin switches 26 to 31. Coin switch 26 is operated by the insertion of a penny into the machine, coin switch 27 is operated by the insertion of a threepenny piece into the machine, coin switch 28 is operated by the insertion of a sixpenny piece into the machine, coin switch 29 is operated by the insertion of a shilling into the machine, coin switch 30 is operated by the insertion of a florin into the machine and coin switch 31 is operated by the insertion of a half-crown into the machine.

The unit also includes a first step counter T1 having an operating relay 32, a second step counter T2 having an operating relay 33, an intermediate step counter 34 having an operating relay 35, resetting mechanisms 36, 37 and 38 for the three step counters, a pair of hunting relays 39 and 40, three coin switch relays 41, 42 and 43 and a control relay 44.

The first step counter T1 has six armatures 45 to the second step counter has ten armatures 51v to and the intermediate step counter 34 has five armatures only four of which 61 to 64 are shown in the drawings.

For simplicity the effect of separately inserting a single coin of each denomination so as to operate the appropriate coin switch will now be described assuming that, prior to insertion of the coin, the machine is in its nonoperated condition.

Upon inserting a penny, coin switch 26 is operated to energise relay 32 so as to close the first armature 45 of the first step counter T1.

Upon inserting a threepenny piece, coin switch 27 is operated to operate a coin switch relay 41. Operation of the relay 41 results in the closure of a holding contact 65 for the relay 41, the closure of a contact 66, the opening of a contact 67 and the movement of a switch 68 from the position shown in the drawings. Closure of contact 66 operates, upon return movement of the spring loaded coin switch 27, the relay 39 through the coin switches 27, 29, 3t) and 31. Operation of relay 39 closes a switch 69 to operate the other hunting relay 40, relay 35 and relay 32 via operated switch 68. Operation of relay 35 closes the first armature of the intermediate step counter 34 and operation of relay 32 closes the first armature 45 of the first step counter T1. Operation of relay 40 upon closing of switch 69 opens a switch 70 to de-energise relay 39 so as to open switch 69 and de-energise relay 40 whereupon switch 70 closes again. The closure of switch 70 re-energises relay 39 to close switch 69 and to re-operate relays 49, 35 and 32 so that the second armature 61 of the intermediate step counter 32 and the second armature 46 of the first step counter T1 are closed. The operation of relay 40 is as before so that relay 39 is again de-energised and then further re-energised. Further re-energisation of relay 39 again closes switch 69 to operate relays 40, 35 and 32 so as to close the third armature 62 of the intermediate step counter 34 and the third armature 47 of the first step counter T1. Closing of armature 62 energises the control relay 44 through normally closed switches 71 and 72 and this relay 44 closes a contact 73, to operate the resetting mechanism 38 for the intermediate step counter 34 and also opens a switch 74 in series with the relay holding contact 65 to de-energise coin switch relay 41 and to open contacts 65 and 66, to close contact 67 and to return switch 68 to its original position.

The insertion of a sixpenny piece operates coin switch 28 to energise the operating relay 33 of the second step counter T2 directly so as to close the first armature 51 thereof.

Insertion of Sixpence either as six pennies or as three pennies and a threepenny piece or as two threepenny pieces closes the sixth armature 50 of the first step counter T1 which armature 50 is in series with a transfer relay 75 so as to operate the transfer relay 75 which closes a contact 76 and operates a switch 77. Closure of contact 76 effects operation of the operating relay 33 of the second step counter T2 and closes the first armature 51 of the second step counter T2. Operation of switch 77 energises the resetting mechanism 36 of the first step counter T1 which is thus returned to its original position.

The insertion of a shilling operates coin switch 29 which closes to operate the coin switch relay 42 which closes a holding contact 78 and a contact 79, opens contact 71 and moves a switch from the position shown in the drawings. The closure of contact 79 again operates the pair of hunting relays 39 and 40 in the manner described above until the second armature 61 of the intermediate step counter 34 is closed. Switch 67 is now in its closed position so that the control relay 44 is operated to prevent further operation of the intermediate step counter and the hunting relays 39 and 48. Switch 68 is in the position shown in the drawings so that the operating relay 33 of the second step counter T2 is operated upon each closing of switch 69 and in this way two armatures of the second step counter T2 are closed.

The insertion of a two shilling piece into the machine operates coin switch 30 so as to operate both coin switch relays 41 and 42. This has the effect of operating the hunting relays 39 and 40 in the manner described above, opens contacts '67 and 71 and moves switches 68 and 80 from the positions shown in the drawings. In this way the hunting relays continue to operate until the fourth armature 63 of the intermediate step counter 34 is closed and four pulses are delivered to the operating relay 33 of the second step counter T2 so that armature 54 of the second step counter T2 is closed.

The insertion of a half-crown into the machine operates coin switch 31 to energise coin switch relay 43 and also coin switch relay 42. T heeffect of operating coin switch relay 42 is as described above. Operation of coin switch relay 43 closes a holding contact 81, opens contact 72 and closes a contact 82 in parallel with contacts 66 and 79. When contact 72 is opened the control relay 44 cannot be operated until the fifth armature 64 of the intermediate step counter 34 is operated so that five pulses are delivered to the operating relay 33 of the second step counter T2 so that the fifth armature 55 of the second step counter T2 is operated.

Feed-back between the various parts of the circuit is prevented by the inclusion in the circuit of six rectifiers 83 to 88 as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4.

The price control switch means of the machine includes, as described above with reference to FIGURE 1, a pair of dials 20 and 21, dial 20 has six contacts and dial 21 has ten contacts. A pair of rotary switch members 22 and 23 are provided and each switch member can be coated into engagement with any one of the contacts in the dial. The two switch members 22 and 23 are connected by means of a lead which includes an operating relay 24 of the machine. The contacts on the dials are connected when the appropriate armatures of the first and second step counters are operated directly across the main supply.

If a plurality of commodities at different prices are dispensed by the machine there will be a plurality of pairs of dials and switch members connected to the armatures of the first and second step counters, thus the rotary switch members may be roated into engagement with the appropriate contacts on the dials independently of each other to enable rapid price adjustment to be effected.

In order to provide a ready resetting of the first and second step counters T1 and T2 an external switch S is provided on the front of the machine which switch is operated when selecting a commodity so as to operate resetting mechanisms 36 and 37 of the first and second step counters respectively.

Although the invention has been described with reference to British coinage it is, of course, applicable to any other coinage system and can be readily amended for use with a decimal system.

What I claim then is:

1. A credit totalising unit for coin freed apparatus comprising first and second step counters, means rendered operative by the insertion of a basic coin for effecting operation of the first step counter by one step, means for effecting operation of the second step counter by one step as a result of operation of the first step counter by a predetermined number of steps, means rendered operative by the insertion of a datum coin for effecting operation of the second step counter by one step, means rendered operative by the insertion of a coin, the value of which is intermediate that of the basic coin and that of the datum coin for effecting operation of the first step counter by a number of steps dependent upon the value of the coin and rendered operative by the insertion of a coin, the value of which is a multiple of that of the datum coin, for efiecting operation of the second step counter by a number of steps dependent upon the value of the coin divided by the datum number, said first and second step counters each including a plurality of armatures adapted to be operated sequentially, the operation of any one armature preparing the subsequent armature for operation and the armatures of the first and second step counters being connected to price control switch means.

2. Coin freed apparatus including a credit totalising unit which includes first and second step counters, primary means rendered operative by the insertion of a basic coin for effecting operation of the first step counter by one step, secondary means for eifecting operation of the second step counter by one step as a result of operation of the first step counter by a predetermined number of steps, tertiary means rendered operative by the insertion of a coin, the value of which corresponds to the value of the basic coin multiplied by the datum number, for efiecting operation of the second step counter and pulse generating means including a pair of hunting relays, rendered operative by the insertion of a coin, the value of which is intermediate that of the basic coin and that of the datum coin, for effecting operation of the first step counter by a number of steps dependent upon the value of the coin and rendered operative, by the insertion of a coin, the value of which is a multiple of that of the datum coin, for etfecting operation of the second step counter by a number of steps dependent upon the value of the coin divided by the datum number.

3. Coin freed apparatus according to claim 2 which includes an intermediate step counter and a control relay for controlling operation of the pair of hunting relays and hence the pulse generating means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,423,502 7/1947 Jorgensen 133-8 2,659,471 11/1953 Johnston 1949 LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Examiner. 

1. A CREDIT TOTALISING UNIT FOR COIN FREED APPARATUS COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND STEP COUNTERS, MEANS RENDERED OPERATIVE BY THE INSERTION OF A BASIC COIN FOR EFFECTING OPERATION OF THE FIRST STEP COUNTER BY ONE STEP, MEANS FOR EFFECTING OPERATION OF THE SECOND STEP COUNTER BY ONE STEP AS A RESULT OF OPERATION OF THE FIRST STEP COUNTER BY A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF STEPS, MEANS RENDERED OPERATIVE BY THE INSERTION OF A DATUM COIN FOR EFFECTING OPERATION OF THE SECOND STEP COUNTER BY ONE STEP, MEANS RENDERED OPERATIVE BY THE INSERTION OF A COIN, THE VALUE OF WHICH IS INTERMEDIATE THAT OF THE BASIC COIN AND THAT OF THE DATUM COIN FOR EFFECTING OPERATION OF THE FIRST STEP COUNTER BY A NUMBER OF STEPS DEPENDENT UPON THE VALUE OF THE COIN AND RENDERED OPERATIVE BY THE INSERTION OF A COIN, THE VALUE OF WHICH IS A MULTIPLE OF THAT OF THE DATUM COIN, FOR EFFECTING OPERATION OF THE SECOND STEP COUNTER BY A NUMBER OF STEPS DEPENDENT UPON THE VALUE OF THE COIN DIVIDED BY THE DATUM NUMBER, SAID FIRST AND 